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1968 Camaro SS 396 396-375hp L78 M22
l 44,000 actual, original miles. l One owner from 1968 to 1998. l Original Engine, trans, rear, carb, smog. l Hubcaps are original to this car! |
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Thomas took delivery of the Camaro on
March 6, 1968. He took these photos just days later! |
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Thomas
Malphrus returned home to South Carolina from Vietnam in January, 1968. He
had been reading about cars while overseas and knew he wanted a new Chevelle
SS396, a Camaro SS396 or a Z/28 when he returned home. He chose to order the
ultimate SS396 Camaro: a 375hp
396 L78 with the Rockcrusher M22 from Jasper Motors. With
the tall 3.07 gear, Tommie recalls burying the 120 mph speedometer numerous
times. One speedy occasion cost him his driver’s license for a year and $200. The #8
rod bearing spun in March of 1974, so Tommie took the engine apart. It
remained in pieces for the next 24 years. |
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Tommie used
a mileage recorder clipped to the sunvisor to keep track of oil changes in
the Camaro. He set it at 41412 when the engine let go in ‘74. |
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Options include: l L78 Special
High l M22 HD 4
speed l 3.07 ratio,
posi rear l Special
Instrumentation l Tach l AM Radio l Wheelcovers |
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Here’s
the carbon copy quote given Tommie in January, 1968 by the salesman (his
cousin, Johnny Malphrus) at Jasper Motors. |
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For 24 years the Camaro
sat at Tommie’s house. 1990’s photo. |
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March 1968 photos ! |
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2008
PHOTOS |
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Great, real L78, M22 with orig drivetrain, great
docs, 44k documented bulletproof miles but amateur resto. Engine details are
wrong, paint is 10 foot. Only rust appears to have been where leaves
accumulated after years of sitting. Corners of doors have been puttied.
Original door panels. Mint orig wheel covers. Have original smog pump, LH exh
manifold with paint still on it, radiator, dist, pan, etc. Everything Dave
says is original is original to THIS car obtained from orig owner. |
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All orig sheetmetal except hood. Corners of doors
show minor bubbling, putty. Quarters have slight bubbling behind wheel
opening. Never a rust bucket. |
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Door panels are original to car. |
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All
wheelcovers and 3 wheels are orig to car. Wheelcovers were removed early and
are mint. |
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Trim 724,
RR Paint, 02D build. |
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Original
parts from THIS car: smog pump, intake, dist, LH exh man, water pump, oil
pan. Have correctly dated RH exh manifold, 814 alt dated 8A9, 325 starter
8A2, NOS rad support making virtually everything correct. |
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Amateur job
underhood, too. Have orig parts to this car. See below. |
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July 1968.
Note trailer hitch and 1968 plate. |
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Block B88,
TO216MQ, 18N387968 Trans P8B05 18N387968 Rear B28 BR0216G1 Carb 4053 7A4 Glass Rdoor VZ,
R1/4 XX, back replaced, L1/4 XX, Ldoor XX, windshield replaced, mirror 12-7 Wheels (3)
FC dated A8 |
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Docs
include: Dealer quote, time Sale Contract, Warr Book with POP, Copy of
orig title and orig registrations from 1968, 1970; orig GMAC payment book,
envelopes, orig dealer stamped brochure, fantastic detailed orig photos when
car was new, Notarized statement from orig owner verifying mileage, etc. |
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Pitted cowl from leaves. |
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Pitted fender. LH is much better. Have NOS rad support. |
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Corners of doors have been puttied but no bubbling inside. Why????? |
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Trunk is solid as are drop offs to quarters. |
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Tommie
thought he ordered the spoiler with the car, but it arrived without it.
Dealer ordered it, painted it and installed it a couple weeks after delivery. |